The Amazing Race: China Rush 3 () is the third season of The Amazing Race: China Rush, a Chinese reality television series based on the American reality TV series, The Amazing Race. It featured 11 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race across 11 cities in China, to win a trip around the world.
The Chinese TV network International Channel Shanghai aired the season in English and Dragon TV aired the season in Chinese. It ran from April 1 to 28, 2012.
Trainers Liu Weiwei and Lei Sheng were the winners of this season becoming the first Chinese team in the history of the show to win.
Production
Development and filming
The Express Pass, which was awarded to the team who finishes first on the first leg, was introduced in this season. This item allowed the holders to skip a certain task of their choosing before Leg 8. This season also featured an elimination at the Starting Line, which was first seen in the 15th American season. For the Yield, the yielded team had to turn over an hourglass (a feature that was still used for Yields in other versions of the whole franchise), which took 20 minutes. Teams also made a visit to Taiwan, making it the first time the show left Mainland China.
Filming for this season began on April 1, 2012 and ended on April 28, 2012.
Casting
Applications were accepted from December 1, 2011 with open auditions taking place in Shanghai in early January. Open auditions ended early February with applicants receiving notification if they were successful on Feb 15th.
Cast
Contestants included Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang, who were finalists on China's Got Talent.
After being eliminated on Leg 11, Zhang Yelin proposed to Li Yang, who accepted.
Results
The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note this table does not necessarily reflect all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order.
Key
A team placement means the team was eliminated. A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. A indicates that the team decided to use the Express Pass on that leg. An team placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump during the next leg. A indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; indicates the team who received it. A means the team chose to use a U-Turn; indicates the team who received it; around a leg number indicates a leg where the U-Turn was available but not used. Matching coloured symbols (, , , and ) indicate teams who worked together during part of the leg as a result of an Intersection.
Notes
Christine & Steven are citizens of Taiwan, but in the program they were simply stated to be Chinese as the People's Republic of China does not recognize the Republic of China's statehood. Jia Jia & Rob were eliminated at the Starting Line as per the provisions of the first task (see below). Ryan & Charlie initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for taking a taxi to the Detour when the clue instructed them to walk. Three teams checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Ryan & Charlie to 5th. Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for not putting their bags at the designated area at the Detour location. All other teams trailing them checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Xiao Bing & Xiao Bang to last place and resulting in their elimination. Christine & Steven and Janelle & Karin initially arrived 3rd and 5th, respectively, but both teams did not pay their taxi driver. They were instructed to return and pay their driver before being allowed to check-in. While Christine & Steven's placement were not affected, Janelle & Karin's placement were dropped to 6th. Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 7. Khai Shing & Khai Sheng initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 1-hour penalty for taking a taxi directly to Fisherman's Wharf, instead of a ferry, as specified in the clue. All other teams trailing them checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Khai Shing & Khai Sheng to last place and resulting in their elimination. Lei Sheng chose to forfeit the Roadblock at Leg 11 and he & Liu Weiwei were issued a 2-hour penalty at the Roadblock site.